The Sunday Mail
ZIMBABWE Davis Cup team captain Martin Dzuwa has said plans are afoot for the team to camp in the Netherlands prior to their Euro/Africa Group II tie against Finland in March.
The European country will host their opponents from March 4-6 and Dzuwa believes it will be critical to acclimatise to their conditions before the tie.
“We are arranging to have a two-week camp in Europe, because conditions are going to be different, and it will be so cold in Finland that we need to acclimatise to the conditions first,” he said.
“The guys are going to be playing some Futures and challengers before then, but we are trying to organise a camp in Netherlands before we play the tie. We are still in the process of getting that off the ground, but as the captain that’s my plan,” said Dzuwa.
The former Davis Cup player has also challenged his players to make use of this opportunity to get higher world rankings.
Finland (55) is ranked 10 places above Zimbabwe’s 65 on the world ranking, and a win could help improve that situation.
“The team has not been announced yet, but you know with tennis it’s who has got the highest ranking, so it’s probably going to be the same players,” said Dzuwa.
“It’s going to be a tough one; on paper we go into the tie as underdogs, but we won’t let that tear us down.
“These are the kind of matches that the guys will want if they entertain any hopes of breaking through to the professional circuit.
“At the end of the day you want to beat highly ranked players, it’s a good test for them and we will see how they will cope with that.”
Zimbabwe crushed Moldova 5-0 in a relegation tie last year to set up their meeting with Finland.
That team comprised Takanyi Garanganga, Benjamin Lock, in the singles, while Mark Fynn teamed up with Courtney Lock in the doubles.
Tadiwa Chinamo was also part of the team.
“If finances allow maybe we might take the best two juniors to come with us for the experience,” said Dzuwa.
